Serial Slice Images and Segmented Images of the Brainstem for Recognizing the Stereoscopic Morphology of its Nuclei and Tracts

The purpose of this research is to present the serial slice images and segmented images of the human brainstem to make the three-dimensional (3D) images, which are helpful in recognizing stereoscopic morphology of the brainstem components. A brainstem was taken out from a cadaver. The brainstem was embedded with paraffin to make brainstem block. The brainstem block was serially sectioned and digitalized to make slice images. In the slice images, 28 brainstem components including several nuclei and tracts were segmented to make segmented images. The segmented images were volume-reconstructed to make 3D images. One hundred forty-three couples of serial slice images and segmented images with 0.5 ㎜ intervals, 360×288 resolution, 0.125 ㎜ pixel size, and 8 bits gray were achieved. 3D images of the brainstem components were sectioned and rotated. The serial slice images and segmented images were verified by the result that coronal images, sagittal images, and 3D images of the brainstem were not distorted. The serial slice images and segmented images of the brainstem, which were prepared in this research, will be presented to the world. The images are expected to be used for other researchers to make 3D images and virtual dissection software which are helpful in recognizing stereoscopic morphology of the brainstem components.